Spanish shipwreck; San Bernard Rvr. - Update!

[Texasguy24]

I have been studying the legend of the St.(San) Bernard river Spanish shipwreck for a while now and have found some interesting information.

The legend is based in fact for the most part approx. 87,000 lbs (roughly $6.6 million; for ALL 3 ships TOTAL) of silver, gold, and other important trading commodities of the time. There were 3 ships that wrecked off the South Padre coast in 1554: the "Santa Maria de Yciar", "Espirita Santo", and the "San Esteban"

SO...AS OF TODAY: approx 36,000 lbs have been recovered, leaving approx 50,000 lbs of silver and gold, etc... to be discovered by Texas archaelogists.

{LEGALALITY: "a law passed 2-3 decades ago keeps any 'treasure' found of the coast to become the property of the state" (paraphrased)}

***Also, if you have heard or came across a person name nathan who as the story goes found the wreck on google earth, then sued the owners of the land to search the wreck when the owners refused his requests, but just recently he lost the suit.***

TO READ A BRIEF ARTICLE ON THE HISTORY OF THESE SPANISH WRECKS OFF THE COAST OF S.PADRE VISIT: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/313/1554/1554hist.htm ... its really interesting!

 

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[goverton]

Dang....you would think Land Owners would find a Treasure Recovery Company and start diggin......

In the night of course.....

 

[21stTNCav]

I live near SPI and this true historical story is a sore spot with me and other detectorist here in South Texas. It should be a sore spot with other Texans.
The firm that was salvaging just north of the cut was from Indiana. They recovered several artifacts like Astrolabes that can be seen at the museum in Port Isabel.
The State of Texas realized that most of the artifacts had been taken to Indiana and rather than take the firm to court they simply asked for the rutrun of the items for Texas and once this was done The State would work with the company from Indiana to issue a legal salvage permit which gave Texas part of the salvage.
The company agreed and allowed the State of Texas to go to Indiana and load up all the recovered items and take them to Texas. Everything right as rain, right?? Not quite. Now that the company had no leverage in the matter the State put a slow down on the approval process for a permit. While they slowed down the Indiana company from getting a legal salvage permit the legislature of Texas quickly passed the Antiquity's law of 1969.
This law said if it was in the ground even on private property, and it was over 100 years old it belonged to the state of Texas. Nuff said the company lost all money invested and it made you, if you dig a minniball out of your own yard , and you keep it, you are a criminal in the eyes of the law!!
The State archies are now trying to get updated antiquity's law passed that would make it a crime if you find anything over 50 years old and do turn it over to the authorities!

 

[goverton]

I live near SPI and this true historical story is a sore spot with me and other detectorist here in South Texas. It should be a sore spot with other Texans.
The firm that was salvaging just north of the cut was from Indiana. They recovered several artifacts like Astrolabes that can be seen at the museum in Port Isabel.
The State of Texas realized that most of the artifacts had been taken to Indiana and rather than take the firm to court they simply asked for the rutrun of the items for Texas and once this was done The State would work with the company from Indiana to issue a legal salvage permit which gave Texas part of the salvage.
The company agreed and allowed the State of Texas to go to Indiana and load up all the recovered items and take them to Texas. Everything right as rain, right?? Not quite. Now that the company had no leverage in the matter the State put a slow down on the approval process for a permit. While they slowed down the Indiana company from getting a legal salvage permit the legislature of Texas quickly passed the Antiquity's law of 1969.
This law said if it was in the ground even on private property, and it was over 100 years old it belonged to the state of Texas. Nuff said the company lost all money invested and it made you, if you dig a minniball out of your own yard , and you keep it, you are a criminal in the eyes of the law!!
The State archies are now trying to get updated antiquity's law passed that would make it a crime if you find anything over 50 years old and do turn it over to the authorities!

This is WHY you NEVER .....Ever get on TV or internet if you find something of value....NE where!
Keep quite and keep it to yourself!

 

[bayhawk2]

goverton-Yep-Learned that a long time ago..however never found anything worth the effort for the State or anyone else to come after me about...:.)..But you can bet if I do?Only me and my shadow will know.

 

[coazon de oro]

I live near SPI and this true historical story is a sore spot with me and other detectorist here in South Texas. It should be a sore spot with other Texans.
The firm that was salvaging just north of the cut was from Indiana. They recovered several artifacts like Astrolabes that can be seen at the museum in Port Isabel.
The State of Texas realized that most of the artifacts had been taken to Indiana and rather than take the firm to court they simply asked for the rutrun of the items for Texas and once this was done The State would work with the company from Indiana to issue a legal salvage permit which gave Texas part of the salvage.
The company agreed and allowed the State of Texas to go to Indiana and load up all the recovered items and take them to Texas. Everything right as rain, right?? Not quite. Now that the company had no leverage in the matter the State put a slow down on the approval process for a permit. While they slowed down the Indiana company from getting a legal salvage permit the legislature of Texas quickly passed the Antiquity's law of 1969.
This law said if it was in the ground even on private property, and it was over 100 years old it belonged to the state of Texas. Nuff said the company lost all money invested and it made you, if you dig a minniball out of your own yard , and you keep it, you are a criminal in the eyes of the law!!
The State archies are now trying to get updated antiquity's law passed that would make it a crime if you find anything over 50 years old and do turn it over to the authorities!

Howdy 21stTNCav,

I have been on top of just about every treasure law that has been created, and they are many depending on what they decide to call it. It mostly has to do with who gets the treasure, it can be determined to be lost, misplaced, abandoned, or embedded. Then they have to determine whether it's treasure trove, (which this state does not recognize), antiquity, or stolen. The first plunder laws were passed by President Lincoln during the Civil War. Your post made me reread the Texas Antiquity's Law of 1969, and all I can see is that it refers to state, or public property.

If you have anything that shows where private property is included, please post the link. Thanks in advance.

Homar P. Olivarez